Blind-slat adjuster and holder



(No Model.)

J. G. MERRITT.

BLIND SLAT ADJUSTER AND HOLDER.

No. 557,852. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

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JAMES C. MERRITT, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BLlND-SLAT ADJUSTER AND HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 557,852, dated April '7, 1896. Application filed November 14,1895. Serial No, 568,921. (No modeL) T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, J AMES 0. MERRITT, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Blind-lat Adjusters and Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this application.

My improvement relates to devices connected with blind-slats, whereby they may be adjusted to any degree of opening and held in that position, and can also be locked in place when the slats are fully closed. The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a face View of a portion of a window-blind with my improvement attached. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagram, on an bottom rail of the blind, the corrugated spring attached thereto, and one of the blind-slats.

A indicates the frame of the blind, and B B the slats, the latter being of ordinary form and pivoted to turn in the usual way.

0 is a spring of curved form attached to the lower rail of the frame or to some other part of the frame and provided with a series of corrugations of such size and so disposed as to receive the upper edge of one of the slats as it is turned axially to open more or less. As the slat is opened its upper edge is caught and held by the corrugations which fit over it. The upper end of the spring is free, and in its normal condition presses against and holds the slat, but it can be opened more or less, by which means the edge of the slat can be fitted into any one of the corrugations.

The slats are all connected by the ordinary tie-rod D, by which means when one slat is adjusted the others are adjusted and held in like manner.

E is a wear-plate attached to the upper edge of the slat, against which the spring bears, the same being bent to embrace the edge of the slat. This plate prevents wear on the edge of the slat. Near the top the wear-plate is provided with a projecting lip a, and under this lip catches the upper end of the corrugated spring, thereby locking the slats when fully closed. The lip is preferably formed by slitting the plate and turning the metal outward, but it may be formed in any other manner.

The lower ends of both the spring and the wear-plate are turned inward at right angles and driven into the wood, as shown at b. A screw 0 is also passed through the shank of the spring. By this means said parts are held securely in place.

The attachment above described is simple in construction and eifective in use and can be applied on old blinds as well as new ones.

Having described my invention, I do not claim, simply and broadly, a curved and corrugated spring for holding the slats at any adjustment.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a blind-stop,the combination of a curved, corrugated spring having a free upper end which rests below the top of the blind-slat when elevated, and a wear-plate embracing the edge of the slat and provided with an outturned lip with which the end of the spring engages and locks the slats, as herein shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES C. MERRITT.

Witnesses R. F. Oscoon, F. B. HUTCHINSON. 

